It may sound a little like a gang, instead it's our new blog with a simple concept: three answers to any particular question about Naples. We'll pose all kinds of questions and get the answers from the writers and staff of the magazine. 

Check back often to see our opinion on everything from the 3 best kid-friendly restaurants to our top 3 blogs for mothers. 

You're welcome to suggest questions for us. We're happy to have input.

One of the best parts of my job is interacting with the staff and owners of Naples-area businesses who also work with families. It's a really great group of people – most have small, family owned businesses and all of them put in a lot of hours to deliver the best product or service possible. 

We've found some really innovative ways to work together and share our resources and information. In the process, we've created a community (swflfamilynetwork.com). The group meets bimonthly to share ideas and support each other in our business and organization goals.

 We've just switched the format to a lunch/speaker meeting and our next meeting is Wednesday, March 10 at 11:30 a.m. The speaker will be a local expert on social media for small business.

If your business or organization is interested in working with us, check out the website. You can call me at (239) 514-0338 for additional information or simply RSVP for our next meeting. We would love to meet and work with you.

Check back for new entries.

I've been there. Your child is 2 and you know it's time to choose a preschool but you're not sure where to start! You can ask friends and family for their recommendations and you're sure to get a variety of opinions. But it's certainly a good start. Your next step should be to consult our Preschool Directory. Click on the link and you'll find dozens of Collier County preschools that offer a variety of options for your child.

Each child is unique and what best serves one child may not be the best fit for another. Our preschool directory gives you the basics on what is available and allows you the opportunity to narrow down your choices. Once you've done that you can call the preschools and make appointments to attend a session at each school. 

Most of the preschools offer open houses occasionally. If possible, visit the classroom and see the teachers and children in action. An open house is good for general information but seeing how staff and students relate to one another is a much better predictor of whether your child will be happy at a particular school.

If you don't know anyone who has a child at the preschool, don't be afraid to ask to speak to the parents of several current students. Another option is to attend a meeting or two of one of the moms' groups in Collier County – there is a good chance that you'll meet a mother who has first-hand knowledge on the school you are interested in.

Good luck with your search! We get you started with our preschool directory but the real work of educating your child is just beginning once you decide on a preschool.

When I started Neapolitan Family almost 10 years ago one of my primary aims was to pull together as much information about family events in one place as I could. When my daughter was younger finding out what to do as a family was tough. There were no resources devoted specifically to Collier families so planning fun family events was hit or miss.

With both the print issue of Neapolitan Family and our online resource, Collier families no longer have that problem. Our staff pulls events from all over to create the best calendar for families in southwest Florida. Everything from story times to festivals, you'll find them in one place. We share the events with the community through Twitter and Facebook plus we send out a weekly e-newsletter that goes to over 1200 readers.

If you have an event to share, please create an account (it's simple and free) and let us share it with the community. If you have a resource that you think our readers will appreciate, email us at info@neafamily.com and give us the details. We rely on other parents to give us feedback and point us in the direction of what is important and your input is greatly appreciated.

So, if you haven't checked out our calendar lately, do it now. You truly won't find a better one in southwest Florida.

Looking for a preschool? Ready to make summer vacation plans? Need a few ideas for Valentine's Day? We have all 3 for you in the February issue of Neapolitan Family.

Our Preschool Directory is a great resource for those of you starting the search for the right preschool for your child. The number of preschools grow every year and there are plenty of options for every family.

This issue also has a terrific article about Florida vacations that are "kid approved".  There's more to Florida than Disney World (although we did include it!) and our list will give you a good start.

If you're into photography (and what parent isn't?) we have a an article filled with tips from local photography pros. Simple tips like shooting with a flash when your subject is backlit will make a big difference in those family photos. You no longer have to be a pro to get great quality photos.

You can find the magazine here on our web site (see the link on the home page) and in the print version. Enjoy!

Naples is darn cold right now. Visitors are checking temperatures from years past and wondering why nature chose this week to send the cool weather. Locals are answering "I'm cold" when sales clerks ask "how are you doing?". The whining is reaching epidemic proportions this week. Yes, it's cold. But it's not THAT cold folks. The Ugg boots may be cute but you really don't need the fur gloves, ski jacket and heavy scarf.

If you really want to stay inside, there are 3 good choices for the cooler weather. If you're looking for fun with the kids, try one of the following ideas:

1. Libraries. I know that's my stock answer but I'm always amazed at how few parents really utilize them. Our local libraries are wonderful and have children's sections stocked with fun projects, great events and books galore. Grab a few magazines or a book and take a seat while the kids enjoy an hour of entertainment provided by someone else. It's free and it's fun.

www.collier-lib.org

2. Naples Museum. This is such a terrific local resource and great fun for kids as well as adults. It's inexpensive and educational and just plain fun. Little ones will enjoy the bright colors (especially the Chihully glass ceiling on the 2nd floor) even if they don't understand that they are looking at important works of art. Older children can enjoy an hour of art education and it's a great start to their arts education. After the outing, take the kids home, give them a pad of paper and some crayons or paint and have them recreate their own work of art.

www.thephil.org 

3. Collier Museum. Have you ever been to the Collier County Museum? It's a great local resource with 10,000 square feet of exhibits that illustrate the lives of earlier settlers to our county.  Admission is free and the museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Kids enjoy discussing the differences between then and now and it may make them a little more grateful for all the ways their own lives are more comfortable. 

www.colliermuseums.com

The presents are all unwrapped, the cookies and treats eaten, the need to hurry has passed. And, dare I admit it? I'm ready to take the darn tree down! I love putting the tree up, I love sitting in the darkness of the living room watching the twinkling lights throughout December and I love taking it all down. There's this accomplished feeling I get in taking all those ornaments off, tucking them back in the boxes and cleaning up the debris of Christmas. It all looks so clean and sparse without the tree and I'm always ready for that streamlined look just about now.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Here's to taking the tree and other decorations down!

I read time management books all the time. I keep hoping that I will find the "secret" to having enough hours in the day. Between work duties, household chores, family & friends and hobbies, there is always something I want to do and lots more that I need to do. I have a to do list that I finally split into sections because it keeps growing. I've used (and discarded) a hundred other time management tips until I finally hit upon the "secret" for me: 

I will ALWAYS have a long to do list.

I have lots of interests and I like to be busy. There's no way to ever get to the end of the list, at least in this lifetime. I'm learning to switch my thinking on that list to take the pressure off of myself and make the list useful instead of guilt-inducing. The list is now a guide, a repository of things that I might choose to do eventually. Thinking about my to do list this way allows me to pick and choose what is important to me TODAY. I move those items up the list and leave the rest to sit for another day. Some days I want to move through a bunch of little things for a feeling of accomplishment. Other days I grab just one thing that is really important and dedicate myself to making progress in an important area.

So far my new strategy is working. I feel a little less stressed and a little more accepting of my own limits. Reading all of those time management books has taught me something after all!

I'm no cook. But I do make one really good meal: Thanksgiving dinner (which I repeat verbatim for Christmas). 

I make a mean turkey with the perfect amount of butter and seasoning and, if I do say so myself, excellent stuffing. My mashed potatoes (lots of cream and butter and a bit of horseradish) are creamy and delicious. Sides include a tangy cranberry relish, a huge green salad and flaky rolls. And the perfect ending: the BEST pumpkin pie you'll ever eat.  The trick is the crumbly topping of brown sugar, butter and walnuts. A dollop of home made whipped cream and it doesn't get any better.

Now, the confession. I made the pie this morning and I just ate a piece. That's right, I'm eating the Thanksgiving dessert and it tastes even better the day before than it does on Thanksgiving. So, if you need permission, here it is: go ahead and eat part of tomorrow's meal right now, it's going to taste really, really good.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!